Everyone at Homer Physical Therapy

recently spent the weekend exploring movement with our own bodies and assisting each other in making discoveries about our restricted movement patterns during the two-day class titled, “Comprehensive Stabilization Strategies for the Low Back, Pelvis and Hips”. Our friend and mentor, Gordon Browne, PT, from Therapeutic Movement Seminars in Washington came up to provide our physical therapists and staff with professional training and a personal learning opportunity. We progressed from simple movements of a single body part; playing with various muscle options for moving that one part, to complex motions using our whole body – head to toe – all working in a coordinated and well-timed manner. The skills we learned and the discoveries we made about our bodies will allow us to make more informed and observant choices about optimizing movement for our own personal needs and comfort levels.

We spent the last afternoon

examining how our new awareness could translate into activities both we and our clients participate in and in some cases, struggle with every day, such as lifting heavy objects from the floor, pulling weeds in the garden, picking up children, groceries, chainsaws and moving fishing nets with the least amount of stress to our precious joints and muscles. What a great way to spend the weekend!! We were all excited by the new found freedom of movement we experienced.

Gordon’s approach

is an eclectic mix of his physical therapy training and decades-long clinical experience accompanied with his Feldenkrais® training, his background in Yoga, Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Qigong. Gordon’s integrative approach combines his understanding of these holistic eastern movement practices with his understanding of more linear western concepts like anatomy, physiology and commonly used diagnostic terms for promoting usefulness in the rehabilitation clinical setting.

Homer Physical Therapy has incorporated his teachings

in our clinical practice and fitness workshops since its HPT’s inception in 2003. The key features to Gordon’s experiential training include exercises / movement prescription based on pattern specificity. This means understanding the complexity of motions: which patterns are overused and which are under-utilized and developing programs that address these imbalances; proportional use of movement through the muscles and joints (effectively using the big muscles and joints for the biggest work and smaller ones for fine-tuning movements); skeletal weight-bearing versus bearing weight through the soft tissues that are more susceptible to irritation and strain; and functional application of movements – ensuring movement instruction has real-life application. We are excited to share this information with you!

It was an awesome weekend learning with a great group of people and a wonderful instructor!

In our office here at Homer Physical Therapy we are asked to do an in-service twice a year on a health related topic. This week was my turn and I made a presentation about Dry Skin Brushing.

I was very fascinated with all the health benefits that such a simple task can provide. A dry brush can be purchased for under $20 and should be made of natural bristles. It’s easiest done just before a shower. You can do it quickly or take your time. Start brushing at your feet, sweeping your skin upwards towards you heart. Then do your arms starting at the fingers sweeping up and thru your armpits. Next do the trunk of your body sweeping toward your heart. Adjust the pressure of brushing according to the sensitivity of the skin. It should not hurt but will leave the skin with a sense of flushing and possible warmth. In lighter skinned people, this change may be noticed as a slight reddening of the skin.

Some of the many benefits of dry skin brushing are exfoliation, stress reduction, stimulation of the circulatory and lymphatic system, and smoothing and reduction of the appearance of cellulite. It can also be very invigorating. I find it a very pleasurable experience and my skin has become soft and smooth where there used to be little bumpy patches before.

On March 31 at 6 p.m., SVT is showing the documentary, Endo What? This film is about a little understood disease affecting as many as 10-20% of women in the United States. We want to share information about this invisible disease that in many cases fundamentally shapes who women become and greatly impacts their quality of life.